Forest Grove Fire Chief Michael Kinkade offered a possible solution: eliminate the fall burn season and keep the spring season between March and June, allowing residents within the city limits the opportunity to burn once per year.

Councilors were concerned about the impact burning could have on residents’ health and the environment.

While the city may be heading in the direction of a full ban, councilor Elena Uhing said the city should educate the public on what’s allowed under the current burning policy and the options available to them for yard debris disposal before making a decision.

Since the issue was first brought to the city’s attention in 1998, the city introduced its leaf pick-up program and weekly cart pickup by Waste Management.

Both options could have contributed to the reduction of smoke from backyard burns around the city, councilor Richard Kidd argued.

Mayor Peter Truax said the city needed to take a firm stance on whether to ban burning within the city limits. He argued an all-out ban would “give the city teeth to go after” those burning illegally.

“What we’re doing now is not getting us what we want,” Truax said. “We’re still getting the phone calls. We’re still getting people burning garbage in the backyard. That’s the complaint I get more than anything else.”

No firm decision was made in Monday's work session on whether to change burning policy.

The City Council opened the first of three public hearings on the city’s update to its Comprehensive Plan, a policy document that guides the city’s plans for growth, transportation and development in the next 20 years.

The city strengthened city code to prevent people from storing vehicles under temporary canopies and tents for more than 72 hours.